This might be a bit of a tougher read than usual (specifically for links off my blog), but if you would like to be able to attempt to understand parts of why the economy is in the place it currently is, I urge you to spend some time reading the following article. One thing to note, it is mainly written as a rebuttal between two very predominate economists. One, Krugman, interjects a lot of politics into his economics, which requires him to periodically change his "economic" reasonings as time goes by. In my opinion, when trying to give a truthful economic explanation, politics should take a complete backseat.
Please Read: Many are the errors
Okay - now that you're done reading that, you need something heartwarming. I dare you to watch this without tearing up just a bit:
10.04.2010
8.23.2010
#Cars - Next Car?
Periodically I get asked the question, "Bryce, what is your next car going to be?" - I'll be honest, as much as I love the STI, I'm getting a bit run down by the noise and "20-something" attitude it seems to project. So, does that leave me to a quieter, but just as much of a "zoom-zoom" car (BMW, Audi, Merc)? Those options seem a bit "40-something".
Now, this might not be the exact car, but I have to think this is somewhere along the lines of where I'll be looking (and I can't think Anne will be too upset with a car commercial that starts with Christian Louboutins).
Now, this might not be the exact car, but I have to think this is somewhere along the lines of where I'll be looking (and I can't think Anne will be too upset with a car commercial that starts with Christian Louboutins).
8.18.2010
#Politics - Mortgage Market
A Government Role in the Mortgage Market?
by Jeffrey Miron on August 18th, 2010
Timothy F. Geithner, kicking off a half-day conference on housing finance, said Tuesday that it was important for the federal government to continue guaranteeing mortgage loans.
He said continued government support was important “to make sure that Americans can borrow at reasonable interest rates to buy a house even in a downturn.” The absence of such support, Mr. Geithner said, would make future recessions more severe because private lenders would not provide enough money for loans.
These are the kinds of remarks that make me want to tear my hair out: why should government intervene in mortgage markets in any way, shape, or form?
These interventions are just a backdoor way of redistributing income. But even if one believes in such redistribution, distorting mortgage markets, and generating all the moral hazard caused by this approach, is insane.
Some advocates of mortgage policies will claim that homeownership generates beneficial spillovers because property owners take pride in their property and neighborhoods, leading to greater value for everyone. Existing evidence is consistent with this view.
But this evidence does not show that subsidizing homeownerhip generates positive spillovers; in particular, pride in ownership plausibly attaches to houses that people have scrimped and saved for, and in which they have substantial equity; not to houses people know they cannot really afford and in which their equity is miniscule or zero.
So, advocates of redistribution should make their case honestly, not hidden in complicated and costly mortgage policies. The reason they do not, of course, is their fear that voters might reject these subsidies if the true magnitudes were obvious. That’s possible; but that’s democracy.
***
[Added by me] - Though this clip has been editorialize, black and white for impact and all democrats making "comments", I believe it could have been done with either party involved in our political climate these days.
by Jeffrey Miron on August 18th, 2010
Timothy F. Geithner, kicking off a half-day conference on housing finance, said Tuesday that it was important for the federal government to continue guaranteeing mortgage loans.
He said continued government support was important “to make sure that Americans can borrow at reasonable interest rates to buy a house even in a downturn.” The absence of such support, Mr. Geithner said, would make future recessions more severe because private lenders would not provide enough money for loans.
These are the kinds of remarks that make me want to tear my hair out: why should government intervene in mortgage markets in any way, shape, or form?
These interventions are just a backdoor way of redistributing income. But even if one believes in such redistribution, distorting mortgage markets, and generating all the moral hazard caused by this approach, is insane.
Some advocates of mortgage policies will claim that homeownership generates beneficial spillovers because property owners take pride in their property and neighborhoods, leading to greater value for everyone. Existing evidence is consistent with this view.
But this evidence does not show that subsidizing homeownerhip generates positive spillovers; in particular, pride in ownership plausibly attaches to houses that people have scrimped and saved for, and in which they have substantial equity; not to houses people know they cannot really afford and in which their equity is miniscule or zero.
So, advocates of redistribution should make their case honestly, not hidden in complicated and costly mortgage policies. The reason they do not, of course, is their fear that voters might reject these subsidies if the true magnitudes were obvious. That’s possible; but that’s democracy.
***
[Added by me] - Though this clip has been editorialize, black and white for impact and all democrats making "comments", I believe it could have been done with either party involved in our political climate these days.
8.13.2010
#Cars - Pikes Peak
The annual race at Pike's Peak is an event that usually doesn't hit my radar until it's too late to think about a road trip, but inevitably creates some spectacular racing footage for us armchair racers. For those that don't know, Pike's Peak International Hill Climb is a race that started in 1916 and is "only" 12 miles long.
In those 12 miles, there's over 150 turns and nearly 5,000 feet of elevation gain. This year there was another push to attempt to break the 10 minute mark (the race record is 10 minutes 1 second) by two teams; Suzuki and Hyundai. The Hyundai team ended up having a boatload of problems (it's their first year attempting this), and ended up way off the pace.
The Suzuki Team (as the current record holder) had a much better run at it - and luckily for us, they like to share. Now, it's not often you get to sit and watch a racer from start to finish, seeing what he sees. Even with Pike's Peak, most of the footage is edited for a little extra glamor. Not this year.
Here's 11 minutes of footage that will undoubtedly show you that you'll never have enough bravery to attempt something like this.
Bonus Coverage! Same race "course", but this time done in a rear wheel drive car. Extra bravery needed.
In those 12 miles, there's over 150 turns and nearly 5,000 feet of elevation gain. This year there was another push to attempt to break the 10 minute mark (the race record is 10 minutes 1 second) by two teams; Suzuki and Hyundai. The Hyundai team ended up having a boatload of problems (it's their first year attempting this), and ended up way off the pace.
The Suzuki Team (as the current record holder) had a much better run at it - and luckily for us, they like to share. Now, it's not often you get to sit and watch a racer from start to finish, seeing what he sees. Even with Pike's Peak, most of the footage is edited for a little extra glamor. Not this year.
Here's 11 minutes of footage that will undoubtedly show you that you'll never have enough bravery to attempt something like this.
Bonus Coverage! Same race "course", but this time done in a rear wheel drive car. Extra bravery needed.
8.06.2010
#Life - The Midway (San Diego)
Recent Anne and I were able to make a trip down to San Diego; well, she went for a work conference, I went as the "plus one". Before I left, I had heard that if I had time I should make my way over to the USS Midway, which now as a floating museum makes its home in San Diego.
When I arrived at the Midway, I initially balked at the $15 charge to just "walk around a boat". For a moment, I stood there and considered moving onto other options in San Diego, but seeing that I had a the whole day to myself, and I couldn't really come up with something better to do, I decided to pay. It might have been the best decision I made the whole trip.
I think one of the things that pushed me over the edge to check out the Midway was this emblem on the side of the ship:
Commissioned, September 20th 1945 and decommissioned April 11th, 1992; I was very intrigued by a ship that entered service just days after the end of WWII (September 2, 1945 for those that don't remember) and left service after Desert Storm.
Once I was on the ship it became very clear this was not going to be an hour trek around a boat. I put on the audio guided headphones and was informed as I marched off to "station #1" that there were 80+ different stops that I'd be making throughout my day on the USS Midway. One of my favorite aspects of the tour was that they start you in the lowest ranking parts of the boat and slowly move you "up the ranks". Amazing how different your life could be on the ship:
The lowest of the ranks:
A "touch" higher ranking:
As you moved through the ship, it was easy to take a moment and get caught up in the emotion of the situation. I found myself many of times just standing in a place and wondering how many very tough men came through here and what they were thinking and doing. One of the most juxtapositional rooms was the Chapel. In a place that is filled with so much metal and harshness, created for the pure purpose of killing, it seemed oddly out of place, but all together necessary.
Of course, there were plenty of pieces and places for humor - this one in particular jumped out at me. This plaque was in the Command Master Chief's quarters, someone that when the position was described on the audio tour sounded very much like the HR office of the boat (tried to keep an ear on the pulse of the crew, attempting to figure out what they needed to work at their top level).
I still find myself a bit perplexed how they managed to keep this boat, and its technology, relevant from 1945 until 1992. Many places you'd find buttons, levers, and switches that just seemed large and clunky. No more was this question of relevancy more apparent than in the communications room.
Finally, one of the rooms where, when you stopped and listened, you just couldn't help to be engrossed. The command room was in full "action" mode - lights a bit dimmed, the screens all illuminated. And in the background, there was the familiar reporting of the Desert Storm war. It was extremely powerful.
Anyways - the Midway was a great ship and a wonderful museum. I can say I enjoyed every second I spent on the boat. My only recommendation would be bringing a snack and a bottle of water, because you're going to get tired and you're not going to want to leave.
When I arrived at the Midway, I initially balked at the $15 charge to just "walk around a boat". For a moment, I stood there and considered moving onto other options in San Diego, but seeing that I had a the whole day to myself, and I couldn't really come up with something better to do, I decided to pay. It might have been the best decision I made the whole trip.
I think one of the things that pushed me over the edge to check out the Midway was this emblem on the side of the ship:
Commissioned, September 20th 1945 and decommissioned April 11th, 1992; I was very intrigued by a ship that entered service just days after the end of WWII (September 2, 1945 for those that don't remember) and left service after Desert Storm.
Once I was on the ship it became very clear this was not going to be an hour trek around a boat. I put on the audio guided headphones and was informed as I marched off to "station #1" that there were 80+ different stops that I'd be making throughout my day on the USS Midway. One of my favorite aspects of the tour was that they start you in the lowest ranking parts of the boat and slowly move you "up the ranks". Amazing how different your life could be on the ship:
The lowest of the ranks:
A "touch" higher ranking:
As you moved through the ship, it was easy to take a moment and get caught up in the emotion of the situation. I found myself many of times just standing in a place and wondering how many very tough men came through here and what they were thinking and doing. One of the most juxtapositional rooms was the Chapel. In a place that is filled with so much metal and harshness, created for the pure purpose of killing, it seemed oddly out of place, but all together necessary.
Of course, there were plenty of pieces and places for humor - this one in particular jumped out at me. This plaque was in the Command Master Chief's quarters, someone that when the position was described on the audio tour sounded very much like the HR office of the boat (tried to keep an ear on the pulse of the crew, attempting to figure out what they needed to work at their top level).
I still find myself a bit perplexed how they managed to keep this boat, and its technology, relevant from 1945 until 1992. Many places you'd find buttons, levers, and switches that just seemed large and clunky. No more was this question of relevancy more apparent than in the communications room.
Finally, one of the rooms where, when you stopped and listened, you just couldn't help to be engrossed. The command room was in full "action" mode - lights a bit dimmed, the screens all illuminated. And in the background, there was the familiar reporting of the Desert Storm war. It was extremely powerful.
Anyways - the Midway was a great ship and a wonderful museum. I can say I enjoyed every second I spent on the boat. My only recommendation would be bringing a snack and a bottle of water, because you're going to get tired and you're not going to want to leave.
7.27.2010
#Fitness - The Return of the Gut
At the beginning of 2008 I started a "Resolution Challenge", in which four people (Tow, Kristy Doug, and Myself) managed to all change our health and lives in a positive direction. It was pretty rewarding to see everyone do so well over the next 6-9 months. I personally started at 176.4 pounds and ended under 160. I was proud of myself.
Then I started my MBA. Now, after two years, I have finished my MBA and I am proud of myself again. Unfortunately the MBA did not come with some collateral damage as well - I managed to get fat too. On Monday I weighed in at 178.4. I'm now two years older and fatter (but smarter?) than ever.
Now, you all know me - so what do you think I am doing? Finding some mundane workout routine that will ease me back into things? Picking up some sports that I'll be "bad" at because of my shape, but shame me into working out more? (That's plausible, but no logical) Or starting a program that has kicked everyone's ass, and those I've talked to have yet to complete the whole program.
Oh you guessed it; it's the last one. I'm now an infomercial waiting to happen, P90X style. I'm two days in and my body *HATES* me, so I must be doing it right. As I stood in my living room at 5:15am this morning, jumping around the room like you can imagine a thirty year old white dude can do, I did question my sanity. Now with this blog, you can too.
If I was a true glutton for punishment I would share my MBA belly (as it affectionately is called) with everyone, but I'm showing a new level of restraint (lucky for you).
Then I started my MBA. Now, after two years, I have finished my MBA and I am proud of myself again. Unfortunately the MBA did not come with some collateral damage as well - I managed to get fat too. On Monday I weighed in at 178.4. I'm now two years older and fatter (but smarter?) than ever.
Now, you all know me - so what do you think I am doing? Finding some mundane workout routine that will ease me back into things? Picking up some sports that I'll be "bad" at because of my shape, but shame me into working out more? (That's plausible, but no logical) Or starting a program that has kicked everyone's ass, and those I've talked to have yet to complete the whole program.
Oh you guessed it; it's the last one. I'm now an infomercial waiting to happen, P90X style. I'm two days in and my body *HATES* me, so I must be doing it right. As I stood in my living room at 5:15am this morning, jumping around the room like you can imagine a thirty year old white dude can do, I did question my sanity. Now with this blog, you can too.
If I was a true glutton for punishment I would share my MBA belly (as it affectionately is called) with everyone, but I'm showing a new level of restraint (lucky for you).
7.26.2010
Redesign
As you might have noticed, things have changed around here a bit. School is over, I'm happily engaged, the sun has been shining Washington and I just felt that the old blog needed a new coat of html paint.
Going forward I plan to try to stick to a rotating blogging schedule so that you can find what you're interested in quickly. This means every "title" will start with a #Subject, and you'll be able to quickly scroll (or search) on those Subjects. They are as follows:
#Politics
#Fitness (I should just call this one Follies)
#Life
#Tech
#Cars
My goal is to write about each of those things at least once at week. Should be interesting. If there's something that jumps out to any of you as a possible addition to the list, please let me know.
Going forward I plan to try to stick to a rotating blogging schedule so that you can find what you're interested in quickly. This means every "title" will start with a #Subject, and you'll be able to quickly scroll (or search) on those Subjects. They are as follows:
#Politics
#Fitness (I should just call this one Follies)
#Life
#Tech
#Cars
My goal is to write about each of those things at least once at week. Should be interesting. If there's something that jumps out to any of you as a possible addition to the list, please let me know.
1.12.2010
Ken Block - 2009 Highlights
A little highlight reel from Ken Block for 2009. 2010 should be a very interesting year for him as he is going to try his skill in the World Rally Championship.
1.08.2010
Believe the government?
There are a lot of economic theories one way or another about government spending, taxation, expectations, and the lot, but let's consider this very simple chart.
Obama's economic advisers came up with this little handy chart about what would happen to unemployment with and without the recovery (IE: massive government spending) to help sell the American people on the plan. Now, you can either argue that they screwed up and got it wrong from the start (by using the wrong economic theory), or they screwed up and implemented the plan incorrectly - either way, they screwed up. For the record, I'm on the side that they used the wrong theory.
(this chart is borrowed from Dr. Mankiw, econ professor at Harvard)
Obama's economic advisers came up with this little handy chart about what would happen to unemployment with and without the recovery (IE: massive government spending) to help sell the American people on the plan. Now, you can either argue that they screwed up and got it wrong from the start (by using the wrong economic theory), or they screwed up and implemented the plan incorrectly - either way, they screwed up. For the record, I'm on the side that they used the wrong theory.
(this chart is borrowed from Dr. Mankiw, econ professor at Harvard)
12.15.2009
Climate Expert
Please do me a favor. Next time you hear Al Gore speak about the climate, the earth, or anything that doesn't have to government or maybe law (where his degree and experience might have relevancy) ignore him. He is not an expert and you should not talk him as one (in my humble opinion).
There's plenty of examples you can pull from if you want to - but one of the more recent ones is his interview on the Tonight Show. He refers to the earth's center being millions of degrees (it's MAYBE 13,000, at most). Pretty much anyone that passes an entry level undergrad science course would catch this error - but he goes along touting his ideas as if he's a scientist.
He's not.
Also, is it just me, or does some of his "if people think about it at all" and little chuckles seem just a touch elitist? You tell me.
There's plenty of examples you can pull from if you want to - but one of the more recent ones is his interview on the Tonight Show. He refers to the earth's center being millions of degrees (it's MAYBE 13,000, at most). Pretty much anyone that passes an entry level undergrad science course would catch this error - but he goes along touting his ideas as if he's a scientist.
He's not.
Also, is it just me, or does some of his "if people think about it at all" and little chuckles seem just a touch elitist? You tell me.
12.14.2009
Show stopper
Periodically it happens; a song comes along that when you hear it on the radio for the first couple times you'll stay in your car until it's finished, even if you've arrived at your destination.
For me, Pearl Jam has a song like that right now. I'll admit, I think part of it is the harsh reality of the Lakewood officers' shooting, and a number of close family and friends being in the line of public service.
For me, Pearl Jam has a song like that right now. I'll admit, I think part of it is the harsh reality of the Lakewood officers' shooting, and a number of close family and friends being in the line of public service.
Yes I understand that every life must end, aw huh,..
As we sit alone, I know someday we must go, aw huh,..
I’m a lucky man to count on both hands
The ones I love,..
Some folks just have one,
Others they got none, aw huh,..
Stay with me,..
Let’s just breathe.
Practiced are my sins,
Never gonna let me win, aw huh,..
Under everything, just another human being, aw huh,..
Yeh, I don’t wanna hurt, there’s so much in this world
To make me bleed.
Stay with me,..
You’re all I see.
Did I say that I need you?
Did I say that I want you?
Oh, if I didn’t now I’m a fool you see,..
No one knows this more than me.
As I come clean.
I wonder everyday
as I look upon your face, aw huh,..
Everything you gave
And nothing you would take, aw huh,..
Nothing you would take,..
Everything you gave.
Did I say that I need you?
Oh, Did I say that I want you?
Oh, if I didn’t now I’m a fool you see,..
No one know this more than me.
As I come clean.
Nothing you would take,..
everything you gave.
Hold me till I die,..
Meet you on the other side.
As we sit alone, I know someday we must go, aw huh,..
I’m a lucky man to count on both hands
The ones I love,..
Some folks just have one,
Others they got none, aw huh,..
Stay with me,..
Let’s just breathe.
Practiced are my sins,
Never gonna let me win, aw huh,..
Under everything, just another human being, aw huh,..
Yeh, I don’t wanna hurt, there’s so much in this world
To make me bleed.
Stay with me,..
You’re all I see.
Did I say that I need you?
Did I say that I want you?
Oh, if I didn’t now I’m a fool you see,..
No one knows this more than me.
As I come clean.
I wonder everyday
as I look upon your face, aw huh,..
Everything you gave
And nothing you would take, aw huh,..
Nothing you would take,..
Everything you gave.
Did I say that I need you?
Oh, Did I say that I want you?
Oh, if I didn’t now I’m a fool you see,..
No one know this more than me.
As I come clean.
Nothing you would take,..
everything you gave.
Hold me till I die,..
Meet you on the other side.
12.11.2009
The beauty of racing
Just a wonderful montage of racing in slow motion. I recommend watching this full screen and in HD. If I could have picked any career, it would be behind the wheel of a number of these:
12.10.2009
Oh Fox...
As I've progressed through the MBA program, I've tried to extend my information inflows and listen to as many sides of a news story as possible. It's always been hard for me to sum up why Fox News rubs me the wrong way, but this little clip nails two of them.
First, they don't notice - or at least reference (even when going over the numbers) that their numbers are obviously flawed.
Second, Fox News has this nasty little habit of forcing their women anchors into a pigeon hole of looks and intelligence. I find this far more offensive than the creative direction Fox takes with their news dialog. Watch, and see what I mean:
Yes, I know - The Daily Show - a comedy show, but I still think they got it right.
Also, something The Daily Show didn't mention as Fox getting horribly wrong in this exchange. The leaked emails referenced were in the end of November (NY Times) and the screwed up Rasmussen Poll was conducted December 1st and 2nd. So the numbers were POST anti.
First, they don't notice - or at least reference (even when going over the numbers) that their numbers are obviously flawed.
Second, Fox News has this nasty little habit of forcing their women anchors into a pigeon hole of looks and intelligence. I find this far more offensive than the creative direction Fox takes with their news dialog. Watch, and see what I mean:
Yes, I know - The Daily Show - a comedy show, but I still think they got it right.
Also, something The Daily Show didn't mention as Fox getting horribly wrong in this exchange. The leaked emails referenced were in the end of November (NY Times) and the screwed up Rasmussen Poll was conducted December 1st and 2nd. So the numbers were POST anti.
12.03.2009
Why friends are dangerous
You know this started by one guy saying "Hey, hop on the bike, I wanna try something"...
More Motocross >>
More Motocross >>
12.01.2009
On Sheep, Wolves and Sheepdogs - By Dave Grossman
Thank you Anne for the article.
On Sheep, Wolves, and Sheepdogs - Dave Grossman
By LTC (RET) Dave Grossman, author of "On Killing."
Honor never grows old, and honor rejoices the heart of age. It does so because honor is, finally, about defending those noble and worthy things that deserve defending, even if it comes at a high cost. In our time, that may mean social disapproval, public scorn, hardship, persecution, or as always,even death itself. The question remains: What is worth defending? What is worth dying for? What is worth living for? - William J. Bennett - in a lecture to the United States Naval Academy November 24, 1997
One Vietnam veteran, an old retired colonel, once said this to me:
"Most of the people in our society are sheep. They are kind, gentle, productive creatures who can only hurt one another by accident." This is true. Remember, the murder rate is six per 100,000 per year, and the aggravated assault rate is four per 1,000 per year. What this means is that the vast majority of Americans are not inclined to hurt one another. Some estimates say that two million Americans are victims of violent crimes every year, a tragic, staggering number, perhaps an all-time record rate of violent crime. But there are almost 300 million Americans, which means that the odds of being a victim of violent crime is considerably less than one in a hundred on any given year. Furthermore, since many violent crimes are committed by repeat offenders, the actual number of violent citizens is considerably less than two million.
Thus there is a paradox, and we must grasp both ends of the situation: We may well be in the most violent times in history, but violence is still remarkably rare. This is because most citizens are kind, decent people who are not capable of hurting each other, except by accident or under extreme provocation. They are sheep.
I mean nothing negative by calling them sheep. To me it is like the pretty, blue robin's egg. Inside it is soft and gooey but someday it will grow into something wonderful. But the egg cannot survive without its hard blue shell. Police officers, soldiers, and other warriors are like that shell, and someday the civilization they protect will grow into something wonderful.? For now, though, they need warriors to protect them from the predators.
"Then there are the wolves," the old war veteran said, "and the wolves feed on the sheep without mercy." Do you believe there are wolves out there who will feed on the flock without mercy? You better believe it. There are evil men in this world and they are capable of evil deeds. The moment you forget that or pretend it is not so, you become a sheep. There is no safety in denial.
"Then there are sheepdogs," he went on, "and I'm a sheepdog. I live to protect the flock and confront the wolf."
If you have no capacity for violence then you are a healthy productive citizen, a sheep. If you have a capacity for violence and no empathy for your fellow citizens, then you have defined an aggressive sociopath, a wolf. But what if you have a capacity for violence, and a deep love for your fellow citizens? What do you have then? A sheepdog, a warrior, someone who is walking the hero's path. Someone who can walk into the heart of darkness, into the universal human phobia, and walk out unscathed
Let me expand on this old soldier's excellent model of the sheep, wolves, and sheepdogs. We know that the sheep live in denial, that is what makes them sheep. They do not want to believe that there is evil in the world. They can accept the fact that fires can happen, which is why they want fire extinguishers, fire sprinklers, fire alarms and fire exits throughout their kids' schools.
But many of them are outraged at the idea of putting an armed police officer in their kid's school. Our children are thousands of times more likely to be killed or seriously injured by school violence than fire, but the sheep's only response to the possibility of violence is denial. The idea of someone coming to kill or harm their child is just too hard, and so they chose the path of denial.
The sheep generally do not like the sheepdog. He looks a lot like the wolf. He has fangs and the capacity for violence. The difference, though, is that the sheepdog must not, can not and will not ever harm the sheep. Any sheep dog who intentionally harms the lowliest little lamb will be punished and removed. The world cannot work any other way, at least not in a representative democracy or a republic such as ours.
Still, the sheepdog disturbs the sheep. He is a constant reminder that there are wolves in the land. They would prefer that he didn't tell them where to go, or give them traffic tickets, or stand at the ready in our airports in camouflage fatigues holding an M-16. The sheep would much rather have the sheepdog cash in his fangs, spray paint himself white, and go, "Baa."
Until the wolf shows up. Then the entire flock tries desperately to hide behind one lonely sheepdog.
The students, the victims, at Columbine High School were big, tough high school students, and under ordinary circumstances they would not have had the time of day for a police officer. They were not bad kids; they just had nothing to say to a cop. When the school was under attack, however, and SWAT teams were clearing the rooms and hallways, the officers had to physically peel those clinging, sobbing kids off of them. This is how the little lambs feel about their sheepdog when the wolf is at the door.
Look at what happened after September 11, 2001 when the wolf pounded hard on the door. Remember how America, more than ever before, felt differently about their law enforcement officers and military personnel? Remember how many times you heard the word hero?
Understand that there is nothing morally superior about being a sheepdog; it is just what you choose to be. Also understand that a sheepdog is a funny critter: He is always sniffing around out on the perimeter, checking the breeze, barking at things that go bump in the night, and yearning for a righteous battle. That is, the young sheepdogs yearn for a righteous battle. The old sheepdogs are a little older and wiser, but they move to the sound of the guns when needed right along with the young ones.
Here is how the sheep and the sheepdog think differently. The sheep pretend the wolf will never come, but the sheepdog lives for that day. After the attacks on September 11, 2001, most of the sheep, that is, most citizens in America said, "Thank God I wasn't on one of those planes." The sheepdogs, the warriors, said, "Dear God, I wish I could have been on one of those planes. Maybe I could have made a difference." When you are truly transformed into a warrior and have truly invested yourself into warriorhood, you want to be there. You want to be able to make a difference.
There is nothing morally superior about the sheepdog, the warrior, but he does have one real advantage. Only one. And that is that he is able to survive and thrive in an environment that destroys 98 percent of the population. There was research conducted a few years ago with individuals convicted of violent crimes. These cons were in prison for serious, predatory crimes of violence: assaults, murders and killing law enforcement officers. The vast majority said that they specifically targeted victims by body language: slumped walk, passive behavior and lack of awareness. They chose their victims like big cats do in Africa, when they select one out of the herd that is least able to protect itself.
Some people may be destined to be sheep and others might be genetically primed to be wolves or sheepdogs. But I believe that most people can choose which one they want to be, and I'm proud to say that more and more Americans are choosing to become sheepdogs.
Seven months after the attack on September 11, 2001, Todd Beamer was honored in his hometown of Cranbury, New Jersey. Todd, as you recall, was the man on Flight 93 over Pennsylvania who called on his cell phone to alert an operator from United Airlines about the hijacking. When he learned of the other three passenger planes that had been used as weapons, Todd dropped his phone and uttered the words, "Let's roll," which authorities believe was a signal to the other passengers to confront the terrorist hijackers. In one hour, a transformation occurred among the passengers - athletes, business people and parents. -- from sheep to sheepdogs and together they fought the wolves, ultimately saving an unknown number of lives on the ground.
There is no safety for honest men except by believing all possible evil of evil men. - Edmund Burke
Here is the point I like to emphasize, especially to the thousands of police officers and soldiers I speak to each year. In nature the sheep, real sheep, are born as sheep. Sheepdogs are born that way, and so are wolves. They didn't have a choice. But you are not a critter. As a human being, you can be whatever you want to be. It is a conscious, moral decision.
If you want to be a sheep, then you can be a sheep and that is okay, but you must understand the price you pay. When the wolf comes, you and your loved ones are going to die if there is not a sheepdog there to protect you. If you want to be a wolf, you can be one, but the sheepdogs are going to hunt you down and you will never have rest, safety, trust or love. But if you want to be a sheepdog and walk the warrior's path, then you must make a conscious and moral decision every day to dedicate, equip and prepare yourself to thrive in that toxic, corrosive moment when the wolf comes knocking at the door.
For example, many officers carry their weapons in church.? They are well concealed in ankle holsters, shoulder holsters or inside-the-belt holsters tucked into the small of their backs.? Anytime you go to some form of religious service, there is a very good chance that a police officer in your congregation is carrying. You will never know if there is such an individual in your place of worship, until the wolf appears to massacre you and your loved ones.
I was training a group of police officers in Texas, and during the break, one officer asked his friend if he carried his weapon in church. The other cop replied, "I will never be caught without my gun in church." I asked why he felt so strongly about this, and he told me about a cop he knew who was at a church massacre in Ft. Worth, Texas in 1999. In that incident, a mentally deranged individual came into the church and opened fire, gunning down fourteen people. He said that officer believed he could have saved every life that day if he had been carrying his gun. His own son was shot, and all he could do was throw himself on the boy's body and wait to die. That cop looked me in the eye and said, "Do you have any idea how hard it would be to live with yourself after that?"
Some individuals would be horrified if they knew this police officer was carrying a weapon in church. They might call him paranoid and would probably scorn him. Yet these same individuals would be enraged and would call for "heads to roll" if they found out that the airbags in their cars were defective, or that the fire extinguisher and fire sprinklers in their kids' school did not work. They can accept the fact that fires and traffic accidents can happen and that there must be safeguards against them.
Their only response to the wolf, though, is denial, and all too often their response to the sheepdog is scorn and disdain. But the sheepdog quietly asks himself, "Do you have and idea how hard it would be to live with yourself if your loved ones attacked and killed, and you had to stand there helplessly because you were unprepared for that day?"
It is denial that turns people into sheep. Sheep are psychologically destroyed by combat because their only defense is denial, which is counterproductive and destructive, resulting in fear, helplessness and horror when the wolf shows up.
Denial kills you twice. It kills you once, at your moment of truth when you are not physically prepared: you didn't bring your gun, you didn't train. Your only defense was wishful thinking. Hope is not a strategy. Denial kills you a second time because even if you do physically survive, you are psychologically shattered by your fear helplessness and horror at your moment of truth.
Gavin de Becker puts it like this in Fear Less, his superb post-9/11 book, which should be required reading for anyone trying to come to terms with our current world situation: "...denial can be seductive, but it has an insidious side effect. For all the peace of mind deniers think they get by saying it isn't so, the fall they take when faced with new violence is all the more unsettling."
Denial is a save-now-pay-later scheme, a contract written entirely in small print, for in the long run, the denying person knows the truth on some level.
And so the warrior must strive to confront denial in all aspects of his life, and prepare himself for the day when evil comes. If you are warrior who is legally authorized to carry a weapon and you step outside without that weapon, then you become a sheep, pretending that the bad man will not come today. No one can be "on" 24/7, for a lifetime. Everyone needs down time. But if you are authorized to carry a weapon, and you walk outside without it, just take a deep breath, and say this to yourself...
"Baa."
This business of being a sheep or a sheep dog is not a yes-no dichotomy. It is not an all-or-nothing, either-or choice. It is a matter of degrees, a continuum. On one end is an abject, head-in-the-sand-sheep and on the other end is the ultimate warrior. Few people exist completely on one end or the other. Most of us live somewhere in between. Since 9-11 almost everyone in America took a step up that continuum, away from denial. The sheep took a few steps toward accepting and appreciating their warriors, and the warriors started taking their job more seriously. The degree to which you move up that continuum, away from sheephood and denial, is the degree to which you and your loved ones will survive, physically and psychologically at your moment of truth.
On Sheep, Wolves, and Sheepdogs - Dave Grossman
By LTC (RET) Dave Grossman, author of "On Killing."
Honor never grows old, and honor rejoices the heart of age. It does so because honor is, finally, about defending those noble and worthy things that deserve defending, even if it comes at a high cost. In our time, that may mean social disapproval, public scorn, hardship, persecution, or as always,even death itself. The question remains: What is worth defending? What is worth dying for? What is worth living for? - William J. Bennett - in a lecture to the United States Naval Academy November 24, 1997
One Vietnam veteran, an old retired colonel, once said this to me:
"Most of the people in our society are sheep. They are kind, gentle, productive creatures who can only hurt one another by accident." This is true. Remember, the murder rate is six per 100,000 per year, and the aggravated assault rate is four per 1,000 per year. What this means is that the vast majority of Americans are not inclined to hurt one another. Some estimates say that two million Americans are victims of violent crimes every year, a tragic, staggering number, perhaps an all-time record rate of violent crime. But there are almost 300 million Americans, which means that the odds of being a victim of violent crime is considerably less than one in a hundred on any given year. Furthermore, since many violent crimes are committed by repeat offenders, the actual number of violent citizens is considerably less than two million.
Thus there is a paradox, and we must grasp both ends of the situation: We may well be in the most violent times in history, but violence is still remarkably rare. This is because most citizens are kind, decent people who are not capable of hurting each other, except by accident or under extreme provocation. They are sheep.
I mean nothing negative by calling them sheep. To me it is like the pretty, blue robin's egg. Inside it is soft and gooey but someday it will grow into something wonderful. But the egg cannot survive without its hard blue shell. Police officers, soldiers, and other warriors are like that shell, and someday the civilization they protect will grow into something wonderful.? For now, though, they need warriors to protect them from the predators.
"Then there are the wolves," the old war veteran said, "and the wolves feed on the sheep without mercy." Do you believe there are wolves out there who will feed on the flock without mercy? You better believe it. There are evil men in this world and they are capable of evil deeds. The moment you forget that or pretend it is not so, you become a sheep. There is no safety in denial.
"Then there are sheepdogs," he went on, "and I'm a sheepdog. I live to protect the flock and confront the wolf."
If you have no capacity for violence then you are a healthy productive citizen, a sheep. If you have a capacity for violence and no empathy for your fellow citizens, then you have defined an aggressive sociopath, a wolf. But what if you have a capacity for violence, and a deep love for your fellow citizens? What do you have then? A sheepdog, a warrior, someone who is walking the hero's path. Someone who can walk into the heart of darkness, into the universal human phobia, and walk out unscathed
Let me expand on this old soldier's excellent model of the sheep, wolves, and sheepdogs. We know that the sheep live in denial, that is what makes them sheep. They do not want to believe that there is evil in the world. They can accept the fact that fires can happen, which is why they want fire extinguishers, fire sprinklers, fire alarms and fire exits throughout their kids' schools.
But many of them are outraged at the idea of putting an armed police officer in their kid's school. Our children are thousands of times more likely to be killed or seriously injured by school violence than fire, but the sheep's only response to the possibility of violence is denial. The idea of someone coming to kill or harm their child is just too hard, and so they chose the path of denial.
The sheep generally do not like the sheepdog. He looks a lot like the wolf. He has fangs and the capacity for violence. The difference, though, is that the sheepdog must not, can not and will not ever harm the sheep. Any sheep dog who intentionally harms the lowliest little lamb will be punished and removed. The world cannot work any other way, at least not in a representative democracy or a republic such as ours.
Still, the sheepdog disturbs the sheep. He is a constant reminder that there are wolves in the land. They would prefer that he didn't tell them where to go, or give them traffic tickets, or stand at the ready in our airports in camouflage fatigues holding an M-16. The sheep would much rather have the sheepdog cash in his fangs, spray paint himself white, and go, "Baa."
Until the wolf shows up. Then the entire flock tries desperately to hide behind one lonely sheepdog.
The students, the victims, at Columbine High School were big, tough high school students, and under ordinary circumstances they would not have had the time of day for a police officer. They were not bad kids; they just had nothing to say to a cop. When the school was under attack, however, and SWAT teams were clearing the rooms and hallways, the officers had to physically peel those clinging, sobbing kids off of them. This is how the little lambs feel about their sheepdog when the wolf is at the door.
Look at what happened after September 11, 2001 when the wolf pounded hard on the door. Remember how America, more than ever before, felt differently about their law enforcement officers and military personnel? Remember how many times you heard the word hero?
Understand that there is nothing morally superior about being a sheepdog; it is just what you choose to be. Also understand that a sheepdog is a funny critter: He is always sniffing around out on the perimeter, checking the breeze, barking at things that go bump in the night, and yearning for a righteous battle. That is, the young sheepdogs yearn for a righteous battle. The old sheepdogs are a little older and wiser, but they move to the sound of the guns when needed right along with the young ones.
Here is how the sheep and the sheepdog think differently. The sheep pretend the wolf will never come, but the sheepdog lives for that day. After the attacks on September 11, 2001, most of the sheep, that is, most citizens in America said, "Thank God I wasn't on one of those planes." The sheepdogs, the warriors, said, "Dear God, I wish I could have been on one of those planes. Maybe I could have made a difference." When you are truly transformed into a warrior and have truly invested yourself into warriorhood, you want to be there. You want to be able to make a difference.
There is nothing morally superior about the sheepdog, the warrior, but he does have one real advantage. Only one. And that is that he is able to survive and thrive in an environment that destroys 98 percent of the population. There was research conducted a few years ago with individuals convicted of violent crimes. These cons were in prison for serious, predatory crimes of violence: assaults, murders and killing law enforcement officers. The vast majority said that they specifically targeted victims by body language: slumped walk, passive behavior and lack of awareness. They chose their victims like big cats do in Africa, when they select one out of the herd that is least able to protect itself.
Some people may be destined to be sheep and others might be genetically primed to be wolves or sheepdogs. But I believe that most people can choose which one they want to be, and I'm proud to say that more and more Americans are choosing to become sheepdogs.
Seven months after the attack on September 11, 2001, Todd Beamer was honored in his hometown of Cranbury, New Jersey. Todd, as you recall, was the man on Flight 93 over Pennsylvania who called on his cell phone to alert an operator from United Airlines about the hijacking. When he learned of the other three passenger planes that had been used as weapons, Todd dropped his phone and uttered the words, "Let's roll," which authorities believe was a signal to the other passengers to confront the terrorist hijackers. In one hour, a transformation occurred among the passengers - athletes, business people and parents. -- from sheep to sheepdogs and together they fought the wolves, ultimately saving an unknown number of lives on the ground.
There is no safety for honest men except by believing all possible evil of evil men. - Edmund Burke
Here is the point I like to emphasize, especially to the thousands of police officers and soldiers I speak to each year. In nature the sheep, real sheep, are born as sheep. Sheepdogs are born that way, and so are wolves. They didn't have a choice. But you are not a critter. As a human being, you can be whatever you want to be. It is a conscious, moral decision.
If you want to be a sheep, then you can be a sheep and that is okay, but you must understand the price you pay. When the wolf comes, you and your loved ones are going to die if there is not a sheepdog there to protect you. If you want to be a wolf, you can be one, but the sheepdogs are going to hunt you down and you will never have rest, safety, trust or love. But if you want to be a sheepdog and walk the warrior's path, then you must make a conscious and moral decision every day to dedicate, equip and prepare yourself to thrive in that toxic, corrosive moment when the wolf comes knocking at the door.
For example, many officers carry their weapons in church.? They are well concealed in ankle holsters, shoulder holsters or inside-the-belt holsters tucked into the small of their backs.? Anytime you go to some form of religious service, there is a very good chance that a police officer in your congregation is carrying. You will never know if there is such an individual in your place of worship, until the wolf appears to massacre you and your loved ones.
I was training a group of police officers in Texas, and during the break, one officer asked his friend if he carried his weapon in church. The other cop replied, "I will never be caught without my gun in church." I asked why he felt so strongly about this, and he told me about a cop he knew who was at a church massacre in Ft. Worth, Texas in 1999. In that incident, a mentally deranged individual came into the church and opened fire, gunning down fourteen people. He said that officer believed he could have saved every life that day if he had been carrying his gun. His own son was shot, and all he could do was throw himself on the boy's body and wait to die. That cop looked me in the eye and said, "Do you have any idea how hard it would be to live with yourself after that?"
Some individuals would be horrified if they knew this police officer was carrying a weapon in church. They might call him paranoid and would probably scorn him. Yet these same individuals would be enraged and would call for "heads to roll" if they found out that the airbags in their cars were defective, or that the fire extinguisher and fire sprinklers in their kids' school did not work. They can accept the fact that fires and traffic accidents can happen and that there must be safeguards against them.
Their only response to the wolf, though, is denial, and all too often their response to the sheepdog is scorn and disdain. But the sheepdog quietly asks himself, "Do you have and idea how hard it would be to live with yourself if your loved ones attacked and killed, and you had to stand there helplessly because you were unprepared for that day?"
It is denial that turns people into sheep. Sheep are psychologically destroyed by combat because their only defense is denial, which is counterproductive and destructive, resulting in fear, helplessness and horror when the wolf shows up.
Denial kills you twice. It kills you once, at your moment of truth when you are not physically prepared: you didn't bring your gun, you didn't train. Your only defense was wishful thinking. Hope is not a strategy. Denial kills you a second time because even if you do physically survive, you are psychologically shattered by your fear helplessness and horror at your moment of truth.
Gavin de Becker puts it like this in Fear Less, his superb post-9/11 book, which should be required reading for anyone trying to come to terms with our current world situation: "...denial can be seductive, but it has an insidious side effect. For all the peace of mind deniers think they get by saying it isn't so, the fall they take when faced with new violence is all the more unsettling."
Denial is a save-now-pay-later scheme, a contract written entirely in small print, for in the long run, the denying person knows the truth on some level.
And so the warrior must strive to confront denial in all aspects of his life, and prepare himself for the day when evil comes. If you are warrior who is legally authorized to carry a weapon and you step outside without that weapon, then you become a sheep, pretending that the bad man will not come today. No one can be "on" 24/7, for a lifetime. Everyone needs down time. But if you are authorized to carry a weapon, and you walk outside without it, just take a deep breath, and say this to yourself...
"Baa."
This business of being a sheep or a sheep dog is not a yes-no dichotomy. It is not an all-or-nothing, either-or choice. It is a matter of degrees, a continuum. On one end is an abject, head-in-the-sand-sheep and on the other end is the ultimate warrior. Few people exist completely on one end or the other. Most of us live somewhere in between. Since 9-11 almost everyone in America took a step up that continuum, away from denial. The sheep took a few steps toward accepting and appreciating their warriors, and the warriors started taking their job more seriously. The degree to which you move up that continuum, away from sheephood and denial, is the degree to which you and your loved ones will survive, physically and psychologically at your moment of truth.
11.23.2009
Playing with the new camera
So I splurged and got a new camera (Canon 7D) before the holidays this year. I'm not completely comfortable with the split personality of it yet. It has one side that I'm very used to (photos) and one that I'm a complete amateur (HD Video).
That being said, the video is very fun to play with:
http://www.vimeo.com/7764740
That being said, the video is very fun to play with:
http://www.vimeo.com/7764740
11.05.2009
Ever want to see Paris - Quickly?
On an August morning in 1976, French filmmaker Claude Lelouch mounted a gyro-stabilized camera to the bumper of a Ferrari 275 GTB and had a friend, a professional Formula 1 racer, drive at breakneck speed through the heart of Paris.
No streets were closed, for Lelouch was unable to obtain a permit.
No dialogue, just the squeal of tires and the roar of the engine. Breathtakingly insane
Directed by Claude Lelouch, France, 1976
Cinematography by Jacques Lefrançois
No streets were closed, for Lelouch was unable to obtain a permit.
No dialogue, just the squeal of tires and the roar of the engine. Breathtakingly insane
Directed by Claude Lelouch, France, 1976
Cinematography by Jacques Lefrançois
10.28.2009
10.16.2009
June, 2010 - Not that far?
I remember a year ago, when I was just starting to wade into the depths of the MBA program and thinking that August 2010 sounded like a distance in time that should be used to describe celestial travel, not my final (hopefully?) journey in schooling.
Well, one year later and due to persistence (and possibly some crazy hard work over the next 6 months), June (not August) 2010 is sounding very reasonable. Okay, I'm lying; it still sounds burdensome, but manageable. June is now the month I get my weekends back; when Anne and I finally get to see what unadulterated free time feels like again.
It hasn't all been arduous, we have managed to sneak in some fun here and there - and I finally have a computer back where I can unload my photos. So, here's a couple of the highlights from May until September. I couldn't believe it when I saw I hadn't unloaded my camera since May. Ridiculous.
Ava - showing off her tree climbing skills:
Jack, absolutely loving some baseball. This little man is by far tops on my list for "where is all that free time going to go?":
From Amanda's wedding in Lodi:
Okay, I'm lazy - slide show for the rest:
Well, one year later and due to persistence (and possibly some crazy hard work over the next 6 months), June (not August) 2010 is sounding very reasonable. Okay, I'm lying; it still sounds burdensome, but manageable. June is now the month I get my weekends back; when Anne and I finally get to see what unadulterated free time feels like again.
It hasn't all been arduous, we have managed to sneak in some fun here and there - and I finally have a computer back where I can unload my photos. So, here's a couple of the highlights from May until September. I couldn't believe it when I saw I hadn't unloaded my camera since May. Ridiculous.
Ava - showing off her tree climbing skills:
Jack, absolutely loving some baseball. This little man is by far tops on my list for "where is all that free time going to go?":
From Amanda's wedding in Lodi:
Okay, I'm lazy - slide show for the rest:
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